REPELLANT MATERIAL

Abstract: There is provided a repellant material composition comprising an insect repellant and a gel forming agent, wherein said insect repellant is pyrethrum. The composition is suitable for application to the skin and has a particularly long-lasting effect. The composition according to the invention is further capable of drying to form a microfilm layer on the skin, the layer being at least partially water-resistant, and a residue with the ability to repel insects remains on the skin after washing.

Description: "Repellant Material" The present invention relates to a repellant material, and in particular to a material having insect repelling properties. Known compositions which repel insects and can be applied to the skin normally contain diethyltoluamide (deet), dimethylphthalate, di-N-propylisocinchomerate, N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboxamide or mixtures of these compounds as the active ingredient having the desired insect repelling properties. However, although such compounds are effective in repelling insects they have the disadvantage that they can cause irritation to the skin and skin rashes. In extreme cases more severe illness, possibly leading to death, can result. Other insect repellents containing vegetable extracts are safer to use but are less effective in repelling insects and have only a low protection time. Moreover, this type of insect repellant tends to be oily or greasy. In addition many of the conventional insect repelling compositions are completely washed away upon exposure to water or aqueous solutions. According to the present invention there is provided a repellant material composition comprising an insect repellant and a gel forming agent. The composition is suitable for application to the skin and has a particularly long-lasting effect. The composition according to the invention is capable of drying to form a microfilm layer on the skin, the layer being at least partially water-resistant and a residue with the ability to repel insects remains on the skin after washing. In addition, the microfilm layer forms a physical barrier, preventing insect bites. By mixing certain compounds, properties can be produced which affect certain organisms and these properties are not known to be associated with the individual components of the mixture. Preferably the repellent material comprises a pyrethrin (for example pyrethrum) which is effective in repelling insects. In a preferred embodiment, a piperonyl alkoxide is included in the composition and acts synergistically with the pyrethrin to promote the insect-repelling properties of the composition. Preferably the alkoxide has up to 10 carbon atoms, for example 2 to 8 carbon atoms. The gel-forming agent may be any suitable agent capable of forming a gel. Generally the gel formed should not liquify when heated to a temperature lower than 40°C. suitable gel-forming agents include polymeric compounds such as cellulose, cellulose derivates, alginate and the like. The preferred gel-forming agent is alginate. Optionally the composition may further include collagen or glycerine as a component. Addition of 0.01 to 10% by weight of collagen or glycerine promotes adherence of the dried layer of gel composition on the skin. Generally, 0.5 to 2% by weight of glycerine will produce satisfactory results. Additionally further ingredients may be included. For example, binders (eg. resins), viscosifiers, buffers, osmotic regulators, surfactants, emulsifiers, dispersants, dyes, pigments or colorants, perfumes or essential oils, and the like. Mention may be made of sesame oil, orange oil, rosemary oil, black pepper oil and the like which may be included in the composition to produce a pleasant smelling gel. Certain essential oils (such as, for example, rosemary oil and black pepper oil) are also useful to prevent stinging, which is especially useful where the skin has already been bitten by insects . In one embodiment the composition may further include sunscreening components. Suitable sunscreening components are well-known to those skilled in the art, but particular reference is made to titanium dioxide for inclusion in the present composition to impart sunscreening properties thereto. The present composition may be made to impart a recognised degree of protection from sunburn as required, for example the composition may be made to Factor 10 or 20. The composition according to the present invention may be applied to the skin and forms a non-toxic layer of active substance which has the ability to repel insects, such as flying insects for example mosquitos, gnats and midges. The layer of composition on the skin is dry, non-greasy and has a protection time of approximately 6 hours. In addition to being repellent to insects the composition is insecticidal on contact. In another aspect, the present invention also provides a method of producing the composition described above, said method comprising admixing an insect repellant and a gel-forming agent. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of repelling insects from a surface, said method comprising applying a composition as described above to said surface. In a yet further aspect, the present invention provides the use of a composition as described above to repel insects. The following Examples further illustrate the invention in a non-limiting manner. % by weight 6.5 0.47 3.74 0.47 88.82 100.00 The ingredients are blended together into a non-greasy gel which can be applied to the skin to repel insects. titanium dioxide may be added to either composition to provide the required degree of protection from the sun.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A repellant material composition comprising an insect repellant and a gel forming agent, wherein said insect repellant is pyrethrin. 2. A composition as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said gel-forming agent is alginate. 3. A composition as claimed in either of Claims 1 and 2 further comprising a piperonyl alkoxide. 4. A composition as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said piperonyl alkoxide is piperonyl butoxide. 5. A composition as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 further comprising glycerine. 6. A composition as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 further comprising a sunscreening component. 7. A composition as claimed in Claim 6 wherein titanium dioxide is present as said sunscreening component. 8. A repellant material composition substantially as hereinbefore described. 9. A method of producing a composition as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, said method comprising admixing pyrethrum and a gel-forming agent. 10. A method of producing a repellant material composition as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 substantially as hereinbefore described. 11. A method of repelling insects from a surface, said method comprising applying a composition as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8 to said surface. 12. The use of a composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8 to repel insects.

Inventors: PISACANE ANTHONY, PISACANE, ANTHONY
Applicants: PISACANE ANTHONY, PISACANE, ANTHONY
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A01N53
IPC codes: A01N53, A61K8, A61Q17